BEING THERE Portraits 1968 ~ 1990
In this retrospective, the Coningsby Gallery showed four decades of photographer Michael Bennett’s rich & varied early work.
The Family: (1975, in the collection of V&A Museum), wry, intimate portrait of Bennett’s own family.
People Doing Things: (1977 ~ present day): chronicles the most mundane details of everyday life.
1970’s America: impressions of the the east and west coasts in evocative monochrome.
Pier Closing Time: ill-fated but later celebrated lament for neglected coastal North Wales. (1979).
October 2023
The Family: (1975, in the collection of V&A Museum), wry, intimate portrait of Bennett’s own family.
People Doing Things: (1977 ~ present day): chronicles the most mundane details of everyday life.
1970’s America: impressions of the the east and west coasts in evocative monochrome.
Pier Closing Time: ill-fated but later celebrated lament for neglected coastal North Wales. (1979).
October 2023
Susan Howatch
Susan Howatch (b. 1940) is an English author. Her books have included The Starbridge Series and The St. Benet's Trilogy. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.(1991)
George Martin
Sir George Martin (1926 – 2016) was an English record producer, arranger, composer, conductor, audio engineer and musician. In reference to his extensive involvement on each of The Beatles' original albums, Paul McCartney said upon his death, "If anyone earned the title of the fifth Beatle, it was George". He is considered one of the greatest record producers of all time.
Photographed in London, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Photographed in London, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Jenny Diski, London, 1990
The cover of a book published posthumously on her death in 2018. Portrait taken for the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent. Collection of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Barry Fantoni
Barry Fantoni (b. 1940) is a writer, comic strip cartoonist and jazz musician, most famous for his work with the magazine Private Eye, where he is the writer of poems under the name E. J. Thribb. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent. (1990)
J.G. Ballard, 1991
Photographed at his home in Shepperton. It was filled with copies of Surrealist paintings. In the background is a copy of a work by Paul Delvaux. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Chris Tarrant
Chris Tarrant (b. 1946) presented the ITV children's television show Tiswas from 1974 to 1981, and the game show Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? from 1998 to 2014. He was a Capital Radio host from 1984 to 2004.
Photographed at Capital Radio Studios, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Photographed at Capital Radio Studios, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Harry Thompson
Harry Thompson (1960 – 2005) was an English radio and television producer, comedy writer, novelist and biographer. For five years, he was producer of BBC TV's "Have I Got News For You", "They Think It's All Over' and Never Mind The Buzzcocks". Thompson (Obituary, The Guardian) was widely regarded as one of the most successful television producers and comedy writers of his generation. He died on November 7, 2005.
Photographed in the gardens at Soho Square, London, 1991. National Portrait Gallery, London. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Photographed in the gardens at Soho Square, London, 1991. National Portrait Gallery, London. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Ian Curteis
Ian Curteis (1935 – 2021) was a British dramatist and former television director, known for
The Falklands Play, originally scheduled for production in 1985, which was eventually broadcast in 2002. At the time production was cancelled, Curteis blamed a "liberal conspiracy" at the BBC. One of his three marriages was to the novelist Joanna Trollope.
Photographed at his home, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
The Falklands Play, originally scheduled for production in 1985, which was eventually broadcast in 2002. At the time production was cancelled, Curteis blamed a "liberal conspiracy" at the BBC. One of his three marriages was to the novelist Joanna Trollope.
Photographed at his home, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Marco Pierre White
Celebrity chef Marco Pierre White (b. 1961) was, at the time, the youngest chef ever to have been awarded three Michelin stars. He has trained chefs such as Gordon Ramsay and Curtis Stone.
Photographed at Harvey's, his restaurant in Wandsworth, London, 1991. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Photographed at Harvey's, his restaurant in Wandsworth, London, 1991. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes (b. 1941) is a British-Australian actress and voice artist. Her earliest roles were in theatre and after several supporting roles in film and television she won a BAFTA Award for her role in The Age of Innocence (1993) and went on to take the role of Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series.
Photographed at her home, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Photographed at her home, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Kathleen Tynan
Kathleen Tynan (1937 – 1995) was a Canadian-British journalist, author, and screenwriter, once married to theatre critic Kenneth Tynan. Following his death in 1980, she wrote the biography The Life of Kenneth Tynan (1987), her best-known book.
Photographed at her home, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Photographed at her home, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Ralph Steadman
(Right) Ralph Steadman (b. 1936) is a satirical cartoonist best known for his work with American author Hunter S. Thompson. At the photo session he suggested a shot showing off the copy of Leonardo's The Last Supper he had painted onto his bedroom wall (above). Steadman worked for Punch, Private Eye, The Daily Telegraph, The New York Times The New Statesman and Rolling Stone. Photographed at his home, 1991. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
William Douglas-Home
William Douglas Home (1912 – 1992) was a British dramatist and politician, author of 50 plays, most of them comedies in an upper class setting. In 1944, whilst on military service as an officer, Douglas-Home was charged at a Field General Court Martial for disobeying orders during a German attack on Le Harve. He argued he had acted on humanitarian grounds, but was convicted and sent to prison, serving eight months. His eldest brother was Sir Alec Douglas-Home, Prime Minister from 1963 to 1964.
Photographed at his home in Hampshire, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Photographed at his home in Hampshire, 1990. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Monica Connell
Monica Connell is a writer and photographer, author of 'Against a Peacock Sky'.
Photographed at her home, 1991. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Photographed at her home, 1991. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Frances Fyfield, 1991
Frances Fyfield is the pseudonym of Frances Hegarty, an English lawyer and crime-writer. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent.
Portrait Of A Woman, 1978
An out-take from a magazine shoot. 
Steve Jobs, 1980
In London for the launch of the Apple III. For Computing Magazine
Deborah Moggach, 1991
Deborah Moggach is a novelist and screenwriter. She has written nineteen novels, including The Ex-Wives, Tulip Fever (made into the film of the same name), These Foolish Things (made into the film The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel) and Heartbreak Hotel. From the series: Best Of Times, Worst Of Times, for The Independent
Chargehand, Tunbridge Wells West Station, 1985
Commissioned and published by New Society Magazine, a portrait from 'The End Of The Line', which documents the former Tunbridge Wells West Branch Line, closed shortly after this photographs was taken.